Modification Report
- Removed repetitive expressions about her sleep and Qi Feng’s actions.
- Condensed dialogue to focus on the main conflict between Ru Feng and Qiu Chi.
- Removed unnecessary emotional embellishments for clarity.
- Ended the text more abruptly to maintain coherence without needing repetitive reassurances.
- End –
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Qiu Chi scoffed, “Since this shop opened, how much time and effort have you put into it?”
Ru Feng bit her lip, saying nothing. A series of unexpected events had indeed prevented her from fully dedicating herself.
Seeing her expression, Qiu Chi’s face softened slightly. He dropped a stack of materials on the table, “These are the promotion plans I compiled with Master Jiang. Master Jiang is responsible for new cake designs, and I drafted a proposal. This new shop needs to build its reputation.”
Ru Feng stared at him for a moment, then smiled. She organized the materials, took out Master Jiang’s part, and pushed the rest back to Qiu Chi, “Thank you, but I can’t accept.”
Qiu Chi looked up, “Because of Situ Qi Feng?”
Ru Feng shook her head, “This has nothing to do with him. The hardest debt to repay is a human favor. I don’t want to owe you.”
Qiu Chi studied her for a while, “I don’t need you to repay.”
Ru Feng smiled, her gaze shifting, saying softly, “Qiu Chi, I know I have no chance with you, so how could I accept your kindness? In matters of feelings, if you don’t cut things off decisively, it might evolve into a greater tragedy.”
Qiu Chi scrutinized her, “Are you talking about Situ Sui Feng?”
Ru Feng was shocked, “How do you know?” With the Situ family’s power, this matter would surely be tightly sealed.
Qiu Chi curled his lips, “Do you think there are any secrets in this circle? The Situ family just wants to silence the media.”
Ru Feng looked dejected and said nothing.
Qiu Chi noticed her expression, “You’re not part of the Situ family yet, so there’s no need to look so grieved. Situ Sui Feng isn’t a good person either. Her husband was originally Situ Ru Feng’s boyfriend, and then got involved with her. Once their relationship became public, Situ Ru Feng disappeared. A woman who would snatch her own sister’s man is foolish! Creating such a suicide drama only brings pain to loved ones and joy to enemies.”
Ru Feng took a deep breath and forced a smile, “Anyway, Qiu Chi, thank you, but please don’t come again in the future. I just want to live quietly.”
Standing behind the counter, Qiu’s mother was shocked. No one knew better than her about her daughter’s obsession with Qiu Chi. Ten years—almost the most beautiful time of a girl’s first love—had been devoted to this man.
She thought her daughter’s promise not to provoke Qiu Chi was because he had completely rejected her. But now, why was she unwilling when Qiu Chi had come back?
Equally puzzled was Qiu Chi.
Perhaps only now did he realize that this woman’s abandonment was not a strategic retreat or a fleeting passion for Situ Qifeng, but a true determination never to return to him.
“Qiu Ruofeng, are you still you?” he asked.
Ruofeng’s heart was bitter. Of course she was no longer the same; “Qiu Ruofeng died the night you forced her to go to the Situ family.”
Qiu Chi clenched his fist, filled with regret. “I know I was wrong. I just wanted you to give up, not to push you into another man’s arms!” He had never thought he would one day have feelings for her.
Now, these words were useless. The real Qiu Ruofeng was already dead. Ruofeng looked at him, “Qiu Chi, it’s too late.” Too late to be separated by life and death, with no chance to know Qiu Ruofeng’s answer.
After a moment of silence, Qiu Chi asked, “Ten years of devotion, can you really let go so easily? Can we not even be friends?”
The man before her was elegantly dressed and charming. No wonder Qiu Ruofeng had once obsessed over him. Her gaze carried a slight admiration but also sadness. “When I loved you, you were everything; now that I don’t love you, you are nothing. Just because there were ten years of devotion doesn’t mean there’s no end. So, Qiu Chi, you and Qiu Ruofeng are truly over.” She looked at him seriously, “I said you’re a good man.”
“Perhaps after everything is resolved, we can be friends again.”
Qiu Chi suddenly stood up, staring at her intensely. “Qiu Ruofeng, I suspect your ten years were also an act. Can you truly say you devoted yourself?”
He continued to stare at her, as if trying to see into her heart. “Loving when you say love, not loving when you say you don’t—Qiu Ruofeng, I’m impressed by how easily you control your emotions.”
After finishing his statement, he turned and left. Qiu Chi, a proud son of heaven, had a slight fondness for Qiu Ruofeng but was unwilling to trample his pride beneath her feet.
After a moment of silence, her elder brother’s voice came through the phone. “Feng’er, I’m sorry. In the past, I never helped you when Sui Feng hurt you. Now, I need you to help her.” He took a deep breath. “Sui Feng is losing too much blood. Can you get Qi Feng to save her?”
Ru Feng closed her eyes and said nothing. On the other end, Ying Feng clenched his fists, knowing how difficult this was for Ru Feng. Yet Sui Feng’s life was at stake, and only Ru Feng could persuade her second brother to help.
“Big brother,” Ru Feng spoke with difficulty, understanding her brother’s position, “Second brother doesn’t want to. I’ve already tried.”
Ying Feng gritted his teeth, “Feng’er, I need you to make him come. Qi Feng won’t be able to refuse you for long.”
Ru Feng shook her head, “Big brother, I don’t want to force him or exploit his love for me to make him do something he doesn’t want to do.”
“But if he refuses to help, Sui Feng might not survive,” he implored, feeling pain for her dilemma, “Feng’er, please save her.”
Unable to continue, Ying Feng hung up the phone.
Ru Feng felt lost as she heard the dial tone.
“Xiao Feng, come help! The cake is about to come out of the oven!” Qiu’s mother called.
“Okay!” Ru Feng quickly put the phone away and ran over.
In the atmosphere filled with mist and sweetness, Ru Feng’s face was damp, unable to distinguish between tears and sweat.
Why should she save someone who stole her lover? What right did she have to force her brother to do something against his will? She felt she was merely exploiting his love, questioning who gave her the right to hurt someone who cherished her so deeply.
She thought this, yet tears continued to fall.
That was Sui Feng’s sister, who had been with her for over a decade! The sister who styled her hair and wore beautiful clothes with her. How could a decade of feelings leave no trace?
She didn’t want to save her—the sister who had stolen her most beloved Ning Yuan and never treated her like a sister.
Second brother said that saving her would cost his life—how could she agree? In this world, anyone could be lost, but not her second brother.
She bit her lip and suddenly collapsed on the counter, crying. When a person dies, they disappear from this world forever, never to be seen again.
“Feng’er?” As soon as her big brother saw her, his eyes lit up, but when he noticed no one behind her, the light dimmed. He simply reached out to ruffle her hair and softly said, “I’m sorry.” He knew he had been forcing things.
Ru Feng looked up at him. Her usually dignified big brother had become haggard in just two days. Heartbroken, she reached out to hold his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I know you must be feeling worse than me.”
The torment in his heart burst forth, turning into tears that blurred his vision as he pulled her into a tight embrace.
